Veneta Lucile Horsman (Smith)

Veneta Lucile Horsman was born in Elk County, Kansas on March 26th, 1931. She passed away in Independence, MO on April 4, 2022. Lucile was the daughter of Bernard and Lyda (Jontra) Smith.

She lived in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri where her father preached. In 1949 she graduated from Schubert, NE High School. After teaching at a rural school in Nebraska for two years she attended and graduated from Central Christian College in Bartlesville, OK. While she was a student she also worked as a telephone operator.
Following graduation she met and married Robert Thomas Horsman who attended the same church she did in Bartlesville. They married July 30, 1955 in Kingman, KS. Robert was drafted into the army right before they married. After serving two years in the army, they settled in southeast KS.

Lucile was preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard, her husband and one son-in-law Mike Fairleigh. Lucile is survived by her sister DeLois Allen; her six children: Susan (Larry) Nossaman, Kay (Mike) Shelton, Mike (Rita) Horsman, Terry (Rhonda) Horsman, Lynda Fairleigh, and Bonnie Bennett; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

While raising her family Lucile had several cooking jobs, including being the head cook at Friendship Meals of Howard, KS and Food Service Director at Scott County Hospital in Scott City, KS. In 1984 Lucile and Robert moved to West Memphis, AR where they owned and operated a moving and storage business for almost 20 years. When they retired they moved to Weir, KS and later Frontenac, KS.

Lucile loved to collect and try new recipes and continued that habit during retirement. She loved fishing, reading and crossword puzzles. She was known as a jokester and someone who could make everyone laugh. She struck up conversations with people wherever she went and was sassy to the end. Even through her many moves she developed longtime friendships.

Lucile was known to be an excellent seamstress who sewed for her boys and made most of her daughters’ clothing, including prom dresses and wedding gowns. She often sewed for other families. A special memory shared by her daughters was when she made clothes for a family in need. They were so proud of their mom when they saw the family wearing those clothes.

Lucile embodied Acts 9:36b, “this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.” In Oakley, KS she helped the Joy Bus ministry and taught Sunday school. She and Robert ministered to inner city youth while living in West Memphis. They volunteered at the Senior Center while living in Perryville, AR. Whenever someone was in need Lucile would meet that need with a servant heart.

She was a lifelong faithful member of the church of Christ where she taught Sunday school until the age of 80. She had a beautiful soprano voice and enjoyed singing hymns. During retirement she began reading through the Bible every year. She often made encouraging phone calls to people who were struggling and would study the Bible with friends.

Cremation is planned with a Celebration of Life to honor Lucile, to be held at a later date.

The family welcomes thoughts and memories that are shared online. Contributions in her memory can be made to:
Carpenter Place
1501 North Meridian
Wichita, Ks 67203

Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)